Republican strategist Karl Rove to appear at UMass

AMHERST (AP) -- A speech by Republican strategist Karl Rove at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is expected to draw protests, but university officials say they're prepared.

Rove is scheduled to speak at the liberal-leaning campus on Tuesday.

The chief strategist of President George W. Bush's presidential campaigns and his deputy chief of staff was invited by the university's Republican Club in conjunction with the Smith College Republican Club.

UMass student and Republican Club president David Kaufman calls Rove an "important, intelligent and influential" figure in American politics.

The American Friends Service Committee asked Kaufman to cancel Rove's appearance, and when Kaufman refused, they planned to organize a protest.

Committee organizer Jeff Napolitano says Rove "should not be a respected member of society."

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